Mardi Gras Krewes have always seemed a thing of mystery and secrets to me, until a few seasons ago, when I was invited to get a glimpse inside New Orleans’ Krewe of Rex den. A den is the meeting place of carnival krewes and also where the floats are kept to prepare for parade season. Recently, I was invited to join Krewe of Artemis, Baton Rouge’s all female Mardi Gras Krewe. I’ve even been given permission to document and write about the preparations that go into that special season of costumes and throws.
There will be a special section on ShannonLane.com dedicated to the Krewe of Artemis and Mardi Gras 2010. Readers can follow along to find out what goes on behind the scenes of Mardi Gras and just how much hard work (and money) goes into this festive season.
To help celebrate this festive season, Community Coffee has roasted a special batch of their Private Reserve Carnivale Cake ground medium roast coffee. I tasted it and it gets a yummy thumbs up! It is available for purchase online until it runs out. Three lucky readers of ShannonLane.com will be randomly chosen from the comments below and they will each receive one pound of Carnivale Cake blend by Community Coffee.
To enter, leave a comment stating a city or town where Mardi Gras is celebrated. Contest is open to US residents 18 and older. Must provide valid email address (not in the comment) and respond within 3 days or prize will be awarded to another entrant. Contest ends August 25 at 11:59pm CST with winner being announced sometime the next day.
Prize sponsored by Community Coffee, a family owned Louisiana company. For information about planning a visit to see the Artemis Parade in Baton Rouge, LA, visit the Official Tourism Website.
Winner Update: Congratulation to who Carol Lawrence, clenna from NH, and Lisa were picked randomly from Random.org. Check for an email to claim your prize. All the comments were fantastic, but one place that wasn’t mentioned was Key West, who celebrates Mardi Gras. Thanks to everyone who entered and be sure to check back and follow along my Mardi Gras 2010 and Artemis Parade preparations. If you weren’t one of the winners but really want some Community Coffee and can’t get it where you live, it is available online at www.CommunityCoffee.com and can be shipped directly to your home.
Here are the random numbers:
75 117 71
Timestamp: 2009-08-26 12:50:19 UTC
{ 147 comments… read them below or add one }
I am not there any more but I love the small town Mardi Gras put on in Monroe, LA. Got to go once when a friend was a Duchess of the court. Such fun and GREAT throws. LOL. Because we all know…it’s all about the throws, right?
Last year was my first “real” Mardi Gras in Daphne, AL and also in Fairhope, AL. Most fun I’ve had in awhile! Also got to meet family I’ve never met before. I’d LOVE to get my hands on some Carnivale Cake Community coffee too!!
I have always wanted to see Mobile, Alabama’s Mardi Gras as well as New Orleans. The crowds have always been the deterrent for me.
Lousiana is the BEST place to Mardi Gras, Have an exceptional cup ( or two) of coffee and party with the locals.
Louisiana is the place for Mardi Gras. Many great memories. Especially as a kid in the high school band marching in Metarie’s Argus parade on Mardi Gras day. That was always super fun!
Oh Shan, you’re going to have so much fun!! Maybe I can get home this year so I can yell “Throw me something Sistah!!”. I’m looking forward to reading about the “insider” experience. Now you’ve got me all homesick!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans, LA. Always wanted to go and celebrate Mardi Gras there.
Thanks so much.
Oh, New Orleans in the sixties were the greatest Mardi Gras ever!!
Of course that might be because I was a young country girl, seeing them for the first time. LOL
las vegas
I live in Gonzales, La. we always go to Mardi Gras in Metarie la.
This is a GREAT idea! There is so much to learn about Mardi Gras. So much in fact that it may need to be a series of pieces.
Hey girl!
You really need to check out the little Cajun Mardi Gras in Mamou, La. It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced! The party starts on Saturday and goes until the late hours Mardi Gras Day.
Be sure to stop in at Fred’s Lounge. It’s a Mardi Gras landmark. And don’t forget to grab some cracklins!
Shannon, (I love that name!)
I have always enjoyed Lafayette Mardi Gras. However, I got the opportunity to experience New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina with Zulu…what a blast! I have a new understanding of why New Orleans is Mardi Gras!
JSF
I always got to Mardi Gras in Metairie, LA, more of a family atmosphere for me and the family…Gotta love it!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in Hammond, LA with the Krewe of Omega. It was started several years ago and has continued to grow. The parade draws a large crowd and is fun for people of all ages. Hammond may be smaller, but it offers so much, with the celebration of Mardi Gras adding to it’s charm.
I live in South Louisiana, so there isn’t too many cities down here that DOESN’T have a Mardi Gras parade. We too celebrate for the entire 2 weeks leading up to Mardi Gras..just like N.O.!!
It’s awesome to see all the floats, kids, parents, adults partying it up. We also have a blessing of the fleet down here a lil’ later..that’s a parade of boats..but that’s another story 
I live in Lockport and our parade is the Saturday before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras). It’s a real “come-together” time for everyone..old and young alike. The Queen & King are always well known , and everyone knows someone on a float down here
Mardi Gras is one of Lafourche & Terrebonne’s favorite holiday
I like the Madisonville boat parade and the parades in Thibodaux.
The best place to go for Mardi Gras is Carencro, LA. The parade is normally 4 hours long and you always walk away with tons of stuff! It’s very family-friendly as well.
I love going down to New Orleans to visit my brother and sister and celebrate Mardi Gras! Missed last year, but am looking forward to next year festivities!
New Orleans, LA has been my 6 time celebration spot for Mardi Gras! No place like it on earth. I did also get to attend a parade in Metarie while staying there as well. It was smaller of course, but the people were just as amazing!! Love you Louisiana!
I’ve never been able to join a Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans or anywhere else in the Gulf Coast-area, but the celebration is gaining popularity here in Chicago!
One of the best Mardi Gras celebrations, besides the Big Easy is Lafayette, LA! Food, music, parades, hurricanes!
Besides NOLA, Baton Rouge is a great place to celebrate Mardi Gras! They have Community Coffee there, too. I can just taste it.
Southern Louisiana, period. I am a recent transplant to the area, living in the snow bank of Minnesota before I traded it in for the swamp banks of Pearl River, and last year was my first Mardi Gras ever! I was so, so completely brain-washed as to what Mardi Gras was, it was beautiful experiencing it with my 8 year old daughter for the first time. I love living in a place like this where those will be her memories when she grows up. Now I am all weepy over mardi gras
New Orleans, La. Our daughter just go back after staying there two weeks to rebuild homes with her college. Thanks for the lovely giveaway!
Mardi Gras is celebrated at Universal Studio’s here in Orlando, FL in a HUGE way! It is the only time of year that we go to the theme park regularly…the food is phenomenal and the parade is just beautiful. It is definitely worth it to visit Universal Studio’s during Mardi Gras!!
Dallas, Tx
The have a great celebration in Rio de Janeiro every year!
Fun times!!!
Mobile, AL
I grew up celebrating Mardi Gras in New Iberia, Louisiana, where Tobasco Sauce is made, and still get my Community Coffee online or in care packages from my parents. I’ve never tasted anything that can beat it. Carnivale Cake is my favorite kind and I’m so glad they’re making it out of season this year!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many, many large cities as well as small, rural towns in the U.S….Galveston, TX; Alexandria, LA; Shreveport, LA; Gulfport, MS; Baton Rouge, LA; Mobile, AL; Eunice, LA; Elton, LA; Mamou, LA; Basile, LA and of course, New Orleans, LA!!! But it’s also celebrated in other countries…Mazatlan, Mexico; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; Binche, Belgium; Toronto, Canada; Nice, France….the list goes on and on!!! =)
I have always spent Mardi Gras in the Crescent City, aka New Orleans, and I could write a novel about the things I have seen go on during this fun time of year!
Mobile, Alabama. When I lived in Gadsden, my family and I used to go every single year!!!
My parents are from South America and Mardi Gras, or Carnaval, was a big deal. my mom is from Ecuador and she’d tell tales of people running around throwing water, flour, eggs, whatever playfully at people. One of her bosses, in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, saw a elderly aquaintance and raced to get a bucket of water to toss on her as she passed under his balcony. In his haste, he tripped and fell, dumping the bucket of water all over himself! LOL for sure.
Germany celebrates Mardi Gras, too. Only they call it Faschung. It’s still the same celebration, the last big bash before Lent. I believe the biggest Faschung celebration goes on in Mainz. It gets just as crowded and just as crazy as Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Being a native New Orleanian; I really enjoyed celebrating the German version of Mardi Gras when I was stationed over there in the Army. It was like a piece of home was brought over to me once a year.
New Orleans, LA throws the ultimate Mardi Gras bash!
New Orleans still has the best Mardi Gras
I’m originally from Louisiana but moved to Charleston, WV going on 7 yrs ago. We have community coffee shipped to us at a hefty price and I’d love to win this!!!! They do celebrate Mardi Gras a little bit here but we don’t participate..
New Orleans is the best place I know for Mardi Gras!
Thanks for the giveaway!
The obvious U.S. city is New Orleans, of course.
Thank you.:-)
In addition to New Orleans, we have our own modest mardi gras in Covington, KY.
I hear great things about NO but truth is I have never been and always wanted too
Biloxi, Mississippi does a great Mardi Gras celebration!
My family usually takes a short drive to Metairie, LA, to celebrate Mardi Gras. Great family atmosphere, and I love it when we get to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in the parades. Sometimes I get stuck working the big Fat Tuesday, and my co-workers usually come thru and we will have our own little parade in the hallways (not quite the same) but we still celebrate by having us some King Cake and sipping some Community Coffee to pep ourselves up! I enjoy how local children decorate wagon’s for school parades as well. Nowhere’s else. but sweet home Louisiana!
I just moved back to Denham Springs, LA, after living in Texas for 32 years. I can’t wait to Mardi Gras in 2010. I sure could use some good coffee to go with my King Cake(s)!
I think I saw one reference to it, but Galveston, TX puts on a (mostly) family-friendly Mardi Gras. They’ve got it back in the swing after ol’ Ike blew through last year! Love your new site, by the way.
Mardi Gras has always been a passion of mine that I have never been able to attend in New Orleans but would love to get there live one day
Sydney, Australia goes all out for Mardi Gras! I order Community Coffee regularly online. I live in New York, and they do a superior job of getting it sent via UPS right away. Always get my deliveries quickly. And, they offer great specials via facebook on a fairly regular basis! I have two bags of this Carnivale Cake blend due to arrive in the next couple of days. Can’t wait!! But, knowing it will be delicious, I hope to win one too!!
I no longer live in Bayou Vista, La but the celebration in Morgan City was always fun. My little town of Pittsboro, NC doesn’t have a parade for Mardi Gras but we do throw a little party in honor of Fat Tuesday. I miss the culture and people of southern La. It was a great place to grow up!
Mardi Gras to me always mean New Orleans, Louisiana, one of the places I most want to visit in the world.
I celebrate Mardi Gras family style on St. Charles and Napolean, uptown NEW ORLEANS! Hope to be back there for Carnival 2010!
New Orleans has the best craziest funniest (if that’s a word???) Mardi Gras.
I had the opportunity to visit my son in Baton Rouge during Mardi Gras several years ago. I can assure you that his neighborhood had quite the celebration lol.
Happy Birthday! Bet you would like a taste of King Cake on this special day! I think King Cake and Carnivale Cake Coffee would be a great way to start the day! May all your wishes come true today.
“K”
Metairie, LA
I’ve never been to a Mardi Gras celebration, but would love to go sometime!
There’s lots of Mardi Gras celebrations here in New York City.
New Orleans, of course
There are Mardi Gras celebrations everywhere but the best are in and around New Orleans. Even a hurricane could not stop them.
Louisiana is Mardi Gras country
New Orleans
mobile, alabama or New orleans, la
I had the pleasure of attending Mardi Gras one year as a child when my father was stationed in Louisiana. Oh How I miss it!!!!!!! I would say New Orleans to be the place!
though we’ve never been, it is celebrated in Austin, TX
New Orleans! Would love to go!
New Orleans is the town for the wildest Mardi Gras experience but I grew up in Metairie–a more family style Mardi Gras with just as nice parades!
Austin, TX
The best Mardi Gras is in New Orleans.
Nawlins
so much to learn about Mardi Gras
Louisiana is the place for Mardi Gras. Many great memories. Especially as a kid in the high school band marching in Metarie’s Argus parade on Mardi Gras day. That was always super fun!
I had an aunt and uncle that lived in Mobile, AL. They always told me what a great Mardi Gras they had there. I never got to go but I always thought it would be fun.
I don’t think New Orleans can be beat for their Mardi Gras, but there is one in San Francisco every year, too.
Nothing compares to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. My grandparents lived there and I have many fond memories of the city.
Disneyland is my passion. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
Mardi Gras in Metarie Louisiana is one. jelly15301@gmail.com
new orleans La
New Orleans, LA. I’ll bet that coffee is to die for! Thanks.
NEW ORLEANS-LA BABY-WHERE ELSE-IT’S SO GOOD.
Definitely New Orleans!!! What a great town!!!
Lots of towns do but I’ve been apart of the parade and festivities in Pensacola, Florida and it was a blast.
Where is it not celebrated in one way or another?
The biggies that I know about are New Orleans, LA and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Mardi Gras? New Orleans. (New Orleans is Mardi Gras.)
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Galveston, Tx has a good Mardis Gras celebration.
New Orleans, of course
I’d like to see the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, La. Please accept my entry. Thank you.
New Orleans!
My nephew loves Mardi Gras in Mobile – I can’t wait to go with him next year!
New Orleans has to be one of the coolest places to celebrate Mardi Gras.
I’m originaly from New Orleans and Community makes the best coffee. Mardi Gras is celebrated in many places including New Orleans and surrounding cities, Mobile, AL and Biloxi, Ms.
New Orleans, LA.
I live in Hayward WI and we celebrate Mardi Gras at the casino where I work.
Mardi Gras, in my opinion, is best celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the festival all cares are forgotten and life feels
extravagantly good. Perhaps best of all is the food that is perfectly prepared and cannot be found in the same form anywhere in the world. Hope everyone gets to enjoy Mardi Gras in New Orleans someday. Thanks for the contest.
New Orleans is the best!
I have never been to a Mardi Gras party… but I would love to go to New Orleans to see the real thing up close.
It is held in New Orleans, LA. I would love to go
Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans.
Not celebrated in Idaho that I know of, but I would love to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
Biloxi, MS and all along the MS gulf coast
Mardi Gras is also celebrated in Metairie, LA
New Orleans, and plenty of other places, but NOLA takes the cake, so to speak.
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is the best place for Mardi Gras!
Galveston, Texas!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Ain’t nothin’ like the Mardi Gras
held in New Orleans,
that’s for shah!
Las Vegas!!
New Orleans! Thanks for the chance. electricisland(at)gmail.com
I lived in Metairie, LA (just outside New Orleans) and we had tons of Mardi Gras Parades thru town. If you want to go to Mardi Gras, but don’t want your children to see the more unsavory side of the festivities, you should definitely go to Metairie. It’s totally kid friendly and clean. Thanks for the giveaway. I sure miss the coffee and New Orleans.
New Orleans is the best!!
New Orleans!
New Orleans, LA is one place that they celebrate Mardi Gras.
madamerkf at aol dot com
haha, Nearly every town in Lousiana.
Im from there, and during Mardi Gras Season you can find a parade ANYWHERE! and by the way, my family just moved to Tennessee, and we MISS Community Coffee quite terribly. You can’t find anything as good out here.
New Orleans is the best place for Mardi Gras! I haven’t been back south in quite a while and I’m always nostalgic for a taste of home.
I know Artemis is an awesome Krewe, and I’m looking forward to reading your stories!
New Orleans, but it is celebrated in New England just on a small scale.
The parade here in St. Louis is great, and I believe the 2nd biggest Mardi Gras celebration int he nation!
New Orleans is the best place for Mardi Gras!
Rio de Janeiro! Now that’s a really wild celebration!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in Montreal, Canada.
Well I’ve been to New Orleans, and as far as I’m concerned that’s the best place for Mardi Gras!
Thanks so much!
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
New Orleans, La…where else? It’s the best.
new orleans
If we can’t make it to New Orleans, LA then we go to the Galveston, TX mardi grass which is still TONS of fun and a BIG deal. They set up on my grandmother’s old street so we used to watch them get ready as a kid.
They throw beeds along with moon pies and other cool things right next to the beach! Ah, I love it.
St. Louis puts on a great Mardi Gras Party! Tons of fun!
New Orleans is THE PLACE to go for Mardi Gras! I’ve never been there but I hear it’s fantastic! Thanks for running sweepstakes. They brighten my life. I am 82 years old and married for 60 years. Imagine!! But I’m still ready to go to mardi gras if someone would send me airline tickets!!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans, LA.
Great giveaway! I am a coffee lover! I understand that Mardi Gras is also celebrated in Mobile, AL! I would love to celebrate Mardi Gras myself! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
would love to go to mards gras in new orlenes
I haven’t been to a celebration there, yet, but my good friend grew up in Monroe, LA, and tells me of the great celebration during Mardi Gras.
Yay, Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas!
Congrats on the upcoming series, Shannon. It sounds terrific.
I know Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans
Natchitoches, LA is always in the spirit for a party and has a Mardi Gras parade every year. We’re not just about Christmas Festival anymore.
the only Mardi Gras I know about is in New Orleans, LA!
Madi gras is celebrated in New Orleans Louisianna.
The only one I know about is in New Orleans.
the only one i know of is new orleans
I really miss living in Lake Charles, La. and also miss mardi Gras! Thanks for a great giveaway!
Thanks for the contest!
Mardi Gras is in New Orleans. We lived in Metairie for 8 years and my husband even rode on a float in Bacchus! We had lots of beads and coins and the kids enjoyed it!
We no longer live there but we do miss the food and the Community Coffee-oh yeah!
New Orleans! We went there the week after Mardi Gras and my daughter spent the entire week picking up all the discarded necklaces and other junk. She wanted to move there!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans, LA.
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is the only place I ever heard that celebrates Mardi Gras.
New Orleans is the Mardi Gras capital! We are going to Rio next year for Carnivale and I anticipate that making the LA festivities look like playschool.
new orleans is mardi gras capital. never been there.
It’s celebrated in Quebec.
New Orleans LA.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana.
I am new to Louisiana and I live in a wonderful town of Hammond not far from Baton Rogue and I love it and Mardi Gras it is fun and we have festivals all year long my favorite is Strawberry Festival they have all kind of strawberry treats. Gotta love it here there is no where else in the US like it